At one point in Sunday’s Elite Eight East Region contest, the No. 1-seeded Duke Blue Devils held a 19-point lead over the No. 2-seeded UConn Huskies at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
That lead, though, and the game itself were lost in the second half, thanks to UConn’s Braylon Mullins hitting a miraculous 3-pointer. The Huskies beat the Blue Devils 73-72 to advance to the Final Four.
Duke Basketball Roasted Online After Elite Eight Collapse vs. UConn
Despite 27 points from freshman sensation Cameron Boozer, Duke’s season came to a heartbreaking end.
SiriusXM NBA Radio host Rob Perez had some interesting thoughts after watching the Duke meltdown take place. Perez posted on X, “You could assemble every Oscar-winning writer in Hollywood and they still wouldn’t be able to put together a funnier Duke losing script than that.”
You could assemble every Oscar-winning writer in Hollywood and they still wouldn’t be able to put together a funnier Duke losing script than that.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) March 29, 2026
Fanatics Sportsbook’s account on X posted, “Duke for two years in a row:” They added a photo of Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller putting his hands around his throat, signifying a choke job.
Duke for two years in a row: pic.twitter.com/LMCmX0Azve
— Fanatics Sportsbook (@FanaticsBook) March 29, 2026
MARCH MADNESS: Fill In Your Bracket Now!
Dan Katz, better known as Big Cat from Barstool Sports, shared a video of the Duke radio team’s call of Mullins’ game-winning 3-pointer. Katz wrote, “‘That should be a technical.’ Oh it’s so so sweet.”
“That should be a technical”. Oh it’s so so sweet https://t.co/uETvlKpiaC
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) March 29, 2026
Katz, though, wasn’t through making comments on the UConn-Duke game. In a sarcastic tone, he posted on X, “If Boozer just holds the ball at mid court Duke is cutting down the nets. Such a shame.”
If Boozer just holds the ball at mid court Duke is cutting down the nets. Such a shame https://t.co/GkpHBF62sz
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) March 29, 2026
Chris Vannini, a senior writer for The Athletic who usually writes about college football, shared graphics showing that Duke just didn’t get the job done for a second straight season. “Two straight years, Duke completely collapses down the stretch late in March,” Vannini wrote.
Two straight years, Duke completely collapses down the stretch late in March. pic.twitter.com/TuHv2OEyci
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) March 29, 2026
Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, also had a pithy comment after watching Duke not being able to close out Sunday’s game. Portnoy posted on X, “UConn is everything that Duke pretends to see when they look in the mirror.”
Portnoy, though, wasn’t through commenting on the game. He even wondered if the time has come for Duke to find a new head coach and move away from Jon Scheyer.
Is it too early to say you got to fire Jon Scheyer? 2 years in a row!!! Worst collapses in the history of the sport! Duke is filled with losers now! Choke artists! Guys who can’t win! Loserville! Bums! Choke Artists! SOFT!
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) March 29, 2026
“Is it too early to say you got to fire Jon Scheyer? 2 years in a row!!!” Portnoy wrote. “Worst collapses in the history of the sport! Duke is filled with losers now! Choke artists! Guys who can’t win! Loserville! Bums! Choke Artists! SOFT!”
Former NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz, who appears on SiriusXM NFL Radio, also posted about Duke’s meltdown for a second straight season. Schwartz posted on X, “All time collapse by Duke. Back to back years. Unacceptable for that program.”
With Duke losing to UConn, the Blue Devils now go home and wonder what might have been yet again. Meanwhile, the Huskies are going to the Final Four.
